Champions At Last.....

61 years is a long time to wait for anything. But as they say it, it's better late than never. Negeri Sembilan football team is not known to be a power house in Malaysian football. They only featured in quite a handful of finals and a few league championships to add to that. The coveted Malaysia cup have alluded them for 61 years. The closest they got was in the 2000 and 2006 seasons when they lost the finals to Perak (0-2) and Perlis (1-2), respectively. The wait ended last night.

Going into the final with good goal scored and against results, and unbeaten through the earlier rounds of the Cup, they were still considered as underdogs (or at least they considered themselves as underdogs).

But inspired to win the Cup as a coronation present to the Yang Di Pertuan Besar, Tuanku Muhriz (who was watching from the royal stand), the team nicknamed Rusa, or the Deers, played the game of their lives against the battling Red Warriors from Kelantan....winning, 3-1.

The goals were scored by Shahruain Abu Samah (18th mins), Hairudin Omar (46th mins) and MohdZaquan Adha Abd Razak (penalty, 59th mins). Kelantan's solitary goal was scored by Indra Putra Mahyuddin (93rd mins).

I was watching the game through the internet live streaming at CG residence in Al-Barsha... the streaming was not that good but at least we could hear the ever-green voice of Mr Hasbullah Awang who wEre doing the commentating.... Most of the friends at the residence were from Kelantan (including the CG) and I was the only Negeri Sembilan supporter there. Naturally, they were quite disappointed with the results.... I would feel the same had Negeri Sembilan lost the game.... but in the end, the better team walked out the winner.... no hard feelings I hope. It's just a football match.... there'll definitely be a winner and runners-up.

To all players, officials and supporters, I congratulate you... This is a big achievement for us... I hope we can do it again next year....

HOBIN JANG HOBIN!!!

Football, that Malaysian malaise...

While the hype of the Malaysia Cup Final is still on, I found this interesting opinion from Idlan Zakaria in The Malaysian Insider

NOV 1 — When I wrote about the funnelling of petrodollars into European football, a commenter queried the level of knowledge I had on the state of the beautiful game in Malaysia. Knowledge, good sir, I have little of; the Malaysian football business – for in this day and age, it is a business — is fairly opaque and I am struggling to uncover any investigative journalism on the matter bar the works of one Rizal Hashim. Opinions on the local game, though, I have a few.

Amateur and professional pundits alike have taken the state of Malaysian football to pieces and tried to glue it back together again; but despite all efforts, as we see it today Malaysian football has proven to be Humpty Dumpty*. When I speak to older football fans, they tell me tales of Mokhtar Dahari running defences ragged; of Soh Chin Aun and Santokh Singh, our formidable back line; of R. Arumugam, the safest hands in all of Asia! I often imagine myself in their shoes some 30-40 years down the line, talking about Malaysian football to the youths of the future. What do I say? Who should I name as our midfield maestro, our wizard on the wings? Indeed, who should I really think of as the footballing heroes of my time when there are little heroic feats to boast about?

Listing what is wrong with Malaysian football is easy. Many others before me have done it, and others after me will do again. Most of us are aware of the history, which I admit is still a sketchy picture for me. (Is there a book on the history of Malaysian football, anywhere, which readers can recommend? Or at least a thesis or dissertation, maybe?) But here goes my attempt at painting this picture as I see it.

A formidable force in the 1950s and 1960s, we announced our arrival on the international scene in the 1970s and 1980s, qualifying for the Olympic Games twice. But unlike Korea and Japan, who built on their successes, we seem to have reached our plateau at this juncture.
The 1990’s began promisingly, with a new professional league in place and the introduction of international players seemed to pique fans’ interest. But just as attendances at games were about to scale the heights it enjoyed in earlier decades, the bribery scandal tore the Malaysian footballing world apart.

It was a scandal like no other, stabbing fans right in the heart. The implication of national heroes Matlan Marjan — once honoured with the national captain’s armband — and crowd favourites Abbas Saad in the scandal shook the faith fans had in the game. Sports was, after all, the last bastion of gamesmanship and honour. Once this was taken out of the equation — and for personal gain at that — nothing could really heal the wound.

In recent years attempts have been made to rejuvenate the local scene. The local league now features club sides as well as state teams, and recent success by club side MPPJ seemed like a breath of fresh air albeit only momentarily — the club went under only a few years after their success amidst rumours of financial irregularities.

The MyTeam program, in which usual channels of talent spotting were bypassed in identifying potential stars of the future, captured the public’s imagination, but despite this, the overall state of dismal international performance continues.

In my own personal list of “things that are wrong with Malaysian football” — of which I am sure every Malaysian fan has his or her own version — I cite the following: First, mismanagement at the league level. Whether it is of the financial resources or of existing talent, more needs to be done to stop us repeating mistakes from our past. Malaysia cannot perform well internationally if the system that feeds players into the national team is broken. And things cannot be fixed for as long as governmental politics is not divorced from the game.

Gone are the days when token Datuks are named as managers. The state of our football is so dire we do not need further levels of feudalism to muddy already opaque waters. The new batch of football clubs in the Malaysian leagues which are not state run seem to run on a business model not unlike other professional football clubs abroad — maybe this is a step in the right direction. Let’s hope there is professionalism involved in its management, and that corporate sponsorship of these teams translates to a more efficient business model rather than being the CEO’s pet project of the moment.

Second, I cite education as being the problem. In a country world where credibility is won by the number of A-grades one scores at SPM level, parents have been known to discourage talented footballers from pursuing a career in sports because it does not guarantee financial security.
And quite rightly so, because as a profession football is very precarious. All you need is one bad injury, and without academic qualifications to fall back on, the risks outweigh the potential benefits, especially taking into consideration that Malaysian footballers are not quite earning the same wages as their colleagues in other countries.

I wonder whether the system in place during the pre-professional football era, where players were given salary-paying jobs in banks or the semi-government sector, allows more stability, and perhaps would encourage more talented players to opt for playing football as a feasible post-high school career.

Or perhaps FAM could adopt the Malaysian Hockey Federation system that allowed their players to play while supporting their academic pursuits, which has seen graduates of Nor Saiful Zaini and Brian Jayhan Siva to name but two.

Third, lack of professionalism and the absence of proper attitude. Signing professional contracts is the start of the journey, not the destination. The David Beckhams and Ryan Giggs of the world put in hour after hour of training day in day out, even after winning international caps. Despite winning almost every major trophy to date, the players at Barcelona still turns up for training on time — and coach Pep Guardiola would have a lot to say if they didn’t. With our players more interested in making the pages of Mangga, should we really be surprised that we are where we are?

But on darker days, I dwell on the alternative explanation. Maybe, just maybe, there is no point in trying to resurrect Malaysian football because perhaps, just perhaps, it is not meant to be for us. Maybe we were just lucky with Mokthar and Chin Aun, and we need to stop hoping that the Akmal Rizals and Titus Palanis are here to recreate our past glory.

Was it even glory in the first place, considering that we merely qualified for the Olympic Games? If there was any glory to “recreate”, surely it would be to do with reaching that pinnacle of footballing heights, the World Cup!

Maybe we’ve maxed out all the credit we have, and it’s time to cut our losses. Maybe it’s not the lack of drive or infrastructure or money, but merely the fact that we’re not cut out for this. Maybe we’ve fallen too far behind to catch up; the game that we used to know has evolved into an industry while we were busy banishing our top players who accepted bribes to throw games.

Perhaps we are the Asian equivalent of Hungary — once great, but never again. Maybe we need to take football as it is, enjoy it as it is and not ask for more. Instead, we should funnel our funds into that 1 Malaysia Formula 1 team, so 1 Malaysia that, I hear, it even has its own KPIs!

*Colchester-related factoid: Humpty Dumpty was a canon used during the siege of Colchester in 1648. The church from where it fell from is now the Colchester Arts Centre. Or so I am told...

Malaysia Cup Final 2009

Congratulations to the Negri Sembilan football team for making it through to the Malaysia Cup final on November 7th, 2009. I hope that the 61-year wait will end that night and the coveted Malaysia Cup trophy will make Negri Sembilan its home for the next one year.... at least until the 2010 Champions are crowned.

Let this also be a present for our beloved Yang Di Pertuan Besar, Tuanku Muhriz... in occasion of his coronation as the 11th Yang Di Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan.

To Coach Wan Jamak and the boys... and all Negri fans out there....

HOBIN JANG HOBIN!!!

Daulat Tuanku

Congratulations to His Royal Highness Tuanku Muhriz ibni Al-Marhum Tuaku Munawir for the occasion of his official coronaration as the 11th Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan; and to Her Royal Highness Tengku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud for her installation as the Tunku Ampuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan (on April 14, 200).

May Allah bless His Royal Highness and his family, and may Allah bless the beautiful state of Negeri Sembilan.

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Lagu Kebesaran Negeri Sembilan

Berkatlah Yang Di Pertuan Besar
Di Negeri Sembilan
Kurniai sihat dan makmur
Kasihi rakyat lanjutkan umur
Akan berkati sekalian yang setia
Musuhnya habis binasa
Berkatlah Yang Dipertuan Besar
Di Negeri Sembilan

Listen to the song HERE

Iran a good market for Malaysian goods, says Matrade

DUBAI, Oct 12 — Despite the challenges of doing business with Iran, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) views the Islamic republic as a fertile ground for Malaysian exports.

Matrade's senior trade commissioner based in Dubai, Dzulkifli Mahmud, said Malaysian exports to the Islamic republic were valued at RM1.19 billion in the first seven months of 2009.
In a further sign of Iranian importers and buyers' growing confidence in high-quality Malaysian products, a Matrade-led Malaysian business delegation succeeded in securing export orders worth RM13.39 million at the just-concluded Ninth Tehran International Industry Fair.

"Most of the Malaysian companies which participated in the fair are new to this market and they're very pleased with the export sales and orders received from Iranian buyers," Dzulkifli told Bernama on the outcome of the Oct 6 to 9 trade fair organised in the Iranian capital.

Malaysia exported RM2.45 billion worth of products to Iran last year. A total of 28 Malaysian companies took part in the exhibition which also marked the fifth participation by Matrade since 2005.

Among Malaysian products which had been well-received by Iranian buyers included building materials, vacuum cleaners, wooden items, industrial rubber products, agriculture pumps, chemicals for oil and gas sector, brake pads and rubber autoparts, solar water heater and car accessories.

"Matrade sees the prospect of exporting more products from Malaysia to the Iranian market as very bright. Iranian buyers now look at Malaysia as a country to source high quality products and services," Dzulkifli said.

He said the Matrade office would continue to assist Malaysian companies in penetrating the Iranian market comprising around 70 million people, 2.6 times the size of Malaysia's population.

"The Iranian market is a growing market and there's good demand locally for consumer products imported from overseas," he said, adding that Iranian buyers preferred high-quality and value-for-money products. — Bernama

From HERE

PAS embraces women at work

KOTA BHARU, Sept 23 — Malaysia’s main Islamist party may not like Muslim women doing yoga, drinking beer or wearing trousers, yet in one of the country’s poorest states, going out to work is something they encourage.

Recent headlines over the caning of a woman who drank beer and other religious edicts or fatwas restricting the behaviour of Muslims have triggered concerns that this traditionally moderate Muslim country was becoming more intolerant.

In Kelantan, however, things are a little different. Women are a vital part of the economy in the state, which has been ruled by the country’s opposition Islamist party for almost 20 years.

“We are better than our men at business. Thankfully, the ulama (Muslim clerics) see that we make a big contribution,” said businesswoman Fatimah Mahmud, tending her stall at the Siti Khadijah market named after Prophet Muhammad’s first wife, who was a successful businesswoman.

In the market, about 300 women set up stalls just after dawn prayers and close shop in the evening after collecting up to RM1,000 a day. All were decked out in gold chains and bangles, symbols of their wealth, and of course headscarves.

The women’s incomes exceed Kelantan’s current GDP per capita of RM8,700, which is 45 percent lower than the national average, according to official data. Many of the women do not always declare their earnings, economists say.

Initially shy of encouraging mothers to work, PAS which is Malaysia’s fastest-growing political party, now actively encourages it.

“Islam liberates women and with supporting this culture of strong businesswomen, we are legitimising them,” said Husam Musa, a PAS official who is part of the state executive council running Kelantan.

“Most of the receipients of state’s business development funds are women,” Husam said, although he did not specify the size of the fund.

PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan chief minister Nik Aziz Nik Mat had said earlier that mothers should stay at home as long periods of separation could affect the children.

Analysts say the move to support Kelantanese women might be a way to soften the image of a party that has said women wearing lipstick and sexy clothes would attract rapists and that hiring beautiful women would be a distraction to men in the workplace.

“PAS is trying to show it can encourage women and business. Perhaps it is shaping itself up for the next general elections in 2013,” said Osman Bakar, deputy chief executive of the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies Malaysia.

PAS, part of a three party opposition alliance, could be part of Malaysia’s next government in elections if it succeeds in breaking the grip of the National Front government that has ruled this country for 52 years.

PAS, however, maintains some strict laws for women in Kelantan as supermarkets must have separate checkout counters for women and men and concerts are a no-go for females as well.
Billboards across Kota Bharu, known as “The City of Islam”, show how women should wear all-covering headscarves and clothes.

“Women have to cover up because they are like gold. They are important to the family,” Nik Aziz said at his weekly sermons last Friday, popular with both men and women who sit in different tents.

The women at the Siti Khadijah agree.

“These laws are a part of Islam and its our duty to follow. But strong women businesswomen are also a part of Islam and that is good enough for us,” said Norisah Che Wan who sold vegetables. — Reuters

From HERE

Hari Malaysia (16hb September)

Selamat Menyambut Hari Malaysia

untuk semua rakyat Malaysia

tak kira agama, bangsa, budaya atau warna kulit

Respect for other faiths in Islamic Jerusalem

I received these excerpts in the email from one of my YahooGroups. They're about how the Commander of the Faithful, Sayidina Umar ibnul Khattab (R.A.), one of the great leaders in the post-Prophet era, deal the people he conquered and the religious minorities. It's a sign of a true leader.... a leader for all the people. It makes you think about what had happened recently in the country.

We call ourselves Muslims..... the followers of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.).... but some of us can't even follow the footsteps of his Companions, let alone the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) himself.... in this case, in terms of religious and racial tolerance.

Read on....

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When Caliph Umar, one of Muhammad's successors, conquered the Jerusalem of the Christian Byzantines in 638, he insisted that the three faiths of Abraham coexist. He refused to pray in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher when he was escorted around the city by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch. Had he done so, he explained, the Muslims would have wanted to build a mosque there to commemorate the first Islamic prayer in Jerusalem.

The Jews found their new Muslim rulers far more congenial than the Byzantines. The Christians had never allowed the Jews to reside permanently in the city, whereas Umar invited 70 Jewish families back. The Byzantines had left the Jewish Temple in ruins and had even begun to use the Temple Mount as a garbage dump.

Umar, according to a variety of accounts, was horrified to see this desecration. He helped clear it with his own hands, reconsecrated the platform and built a simple wooden mosque on the southern end, site of al-Aqsa Mosque today.

Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock, built by Caliph Abd al-Malik in 691, was the first great building to be constructed in the Islamic world. It symbolizes the ascent that all Muslims must make to God, whose perfection and eternity are represented by the circle of the great golden dome. Other Islamic shrines on the Temple Mount, which Muslims call al-Haram al-Sharif, the Most Noble Sanctuary, were devoted to David, Solomon and Jesus.

Karen Armstrong is the author of Islam: A Short History and, more recently, Buddha

Time Magazine, 16 April 2001

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Omar in Jerusalem
The Caliph left Ali in Medina as his deputy and himself left for Jerusalem. He had only one attendant with him and only one camel to ride. Omar and the attendant rode the camel by turns. It happened to be the servant's turn to ride on the day when they were to reach Jerusalem. "Commander of the Faithful," said the attendant, "I give up my turn. It will look awkward, in the eyes of the people, if I ride and you lead the camel."
"Oh no," replied Omar, "I am not going to be unjust. The honour of Islam is enough for us all."
Abu Obaid, Khalid, Yazid and other officers of the army went some distance to receive the Caliph. All of them were wearing silk cloaks. This made Omar angry. He took some pebbles and threw them at his generals, saying, "Have you changed so much in just two years? What dress is this? Even if you had done this two hundred years from now, I would have dismissed you."
The officers replied, "Commander of the Faithful, we are in a land where the quality of clothes worn tells the rank of a man. If we wear ordinary clothes, we will command little respect among the people. However, we are wearing our arms underneath the silken robes."
This answer cooled down the anger of the Caliph.
Next the Caliph signed the treaty of peace. It ran as follows:
"From the servant of Allah and the Commander of the Faithful, Omar:
The inhabitants of Jerusalem are granted security of life and property. Their churches and crosses shall be secure. This treaty applies to all people of the city. Their places of worship shall remain intact. These shall neither be taken over nor pulled down. People shall be quite free to follow their religion. They shall not be put to any trouble..."
The gates of the city were now opened. Omar went straight to the Temple of David (Masjid-i-Aqsa). Here he said his prayer under David's Arch.
Next he visited the biggest Christian church of the city. He was in the church when the time for the afternoon prayer came.
"You may say your prayers in the church," said the Bishop.
"No," replied Omar, "if I do so, the Muslims may one day make this an excuse for taking over the church from you."
So he said his prayers on the steps of the church. Even then, he gave the Bishop a promise in writing. It said that the steps were never to be used for congregational prayers nor was the Adhan [call to prayer] to be said there.

By Prof. Fazl Ahmad who has written many books on Islam, the Prophet Muhammad and the Caliphs

Car Prices

Living in Dubai for the past 1 year, there's one big different that I notice between Malaysia and Dubai.... CAR PRICES.....

They said if one wants to know how much it would cost them (at a very basic level) to buy a particular brand of car in Malaysia, then one can time the price of the car in Dubai by 3.....

So, let's say a car in Dubai costs about Aed90,000.... then in Malaysia, it would cost us RM270,000.

Why? I think the article written by Syed Akbar Ali below would shed some light on the issue.....

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Car Prices in Malaysia - by Syed Akbar Ali

Digest this article, after that, you may need to vomit. What is the Malaysian Govt doing all these while. Ripping off our Rakyat for the last 30 yrs with APs designed to benefit a few well connected Bumis, the UxxO/Bx have robbed millions of citizens in this fiasco, under the pretext of protecting our local industry. The Govt have forgotten we Malays are the largest customers in the country. What is the NEP policy doing ?? Ripping off the Malays (which forms 65% of the consumer base) to benefit a few UxxO politicians !!!

”We cannot choose the things that will happen to us. But we can choose the attitude we will take toward anything that happens.. Success or failure depends on OUR attitude” Malaysia Boleh…Buy Malaysian Products….Long Live Malaysia.. Malaysia Ku Cemerlang…!

BMW 535i sells for RM178,000 in the USA.
In the United States of America (a developed country which we are also aspiring to become by the year 2020) a 2009 model BMW 535i Sedan is selling for about USD50,367.00. This is only RM178,000 - about the price of a Toyota Camry 2.4L here in Malaysia . The same BMW sells in Malaysia for about RM450,000.

BMW 328i sells for RM155,000 in the USA.
The 2009 model BMW 328i 2 door Convertible sells for USD44,014 or RM155,369.00 in the US . In Malaysia the same car sells for over RM460,000. This is an untenable situation.
Audi A4 2..0T Cabriolet Convertible sells for RM142,000 in the US.

The 2009 model Audi A4 2 Door 2.0T Cabriolet Convertible sells in the US for USD40,328.00 or RM142,357. In Malaysia the same car would sell for about RM265,000. VW GTI 2.0T sells for RM85,000 in the US. In the US the 2009 model Volkswagen GTI 2.0T sells for USD 24,039 or RM85,000 only. In China the same car will cost around RM60,000. Over here the same VW car sells for about RM200,000.

And the 2010 model Toyota Camry 2.4L sells in the US for USD 19,659..00 or RM69,396 In Malaysia the 2008 Toyota Camry 2.4L sells for RM170,000. Toyota Camry 2.4L, 2010 model. RM69,000 in the US [cL: it's RM70k in Au]

Car prices in Malaysia are about three times higher than the prices in the United States. We are a developing nation. Our land and labour costs are so much cheaper than the US . Why are our cars so expensive? It does not make any sense. Tak masuk akal.

Then here are some car prices from our neighbour Indonesia . The Toyota Altis sells in Indonesia for about RM46,000. The same car sells here for around RM 112,000. Again we are three times more expensive than Indonesia.

The Honda Jazz sells here for RM108,000.. In Indonesia the Jazz sells for RM 36,000. Three times more expensive.

We are paying ridiculously high prices (and actually impoverishing the Malays - who are the largest buyers of cars in Malaysia) to support an out of date, out of touch with reality motor car policy.

We are paying the highest car prices in the world to support the Proton and other locally made cars as well as support a mind boggling AP policy which only benefits a relatively few rich Malays. A disproportionately large number of Malays and other Malaysians are being impoverished to subsidise the wealth of a few inefficient rich.

26 million Malaysians have to pay three times more for their cars just to support Proton and 120,000 people who are directly and indirectly involved in the motor sector in Malaysia and the AP holders. That is a ratio of 216:1.

This ratio of 216:1 is too skewed. 26.0 million happier people can contribute many more votes than 120,000 members of an inefficient motor industry. 26 million unhappy people can change a Government. (The maths is not really difficult here). And this outdated policy is impoverishing the Malays more than anyone else.

Here is some news from our DPM Tan Sri Muhyudin Yassin about our car policy. This is truncated:
Muhyiddin assures govt support for automotive parts and component sector
1. KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 - The deputy prime minister said special focus will be given to “facilitate and encourage” the development of the automotive parts and component sector despite the current global and regional economic downturn.

2. “Under the CEPT and Asean Trade in Goods Agreements, Malaysia has agreed to eliminate import duties on all products in the Normal Track on January 1, 2010. This includes motor vehicles, auto parts and components,” he said.

3. He pointed out that . .. . the motor vehicle sub sector in Malaysia will not be directly impacted because of its heavy dependence on the domestic market.

4. “The Malaysian government recognises the contribution of the domestic automotive industry towards the development of the country.”

Para 2 sounds promising but then Para 3 and 4 basically says that the Malaysian motor car industry will continue to be protected. This means we will continue paying the highest car prices in the world for automobiles.

Cuba kita kira : kalau kereta Honda Jazz di jual dengan harga yang sebenarnya (lebih kurang RM36,000 saja) dan bukan pada harga sekarang (RM108,000) maksudnya bayaran bulanan pembeli kereta akan jadi kurang, mungkin sepertiga sahaja daripada bayaran bulanan sekarang.

Jika sekarang orang bayar RM1,500 sebulan untuk beli Honda Jazz, kalau harga kereta lebih menepati harga pasaran dunia, orang kita perlu bayar sekitar RM500 saja sebulan.
Maksudnya tanpa Kerajaan perlu membuat apa pun (merangsang ekonomi, belanja berpuluh billion Ringgit duit rakyat untuk stimulus dan sebagainya) setiap rakyat Malaysia yang membeli kereta yang seharga dengan Honda Jazz akan dapat menjimatkan sehingga RM1,000 sebulan daripada kos sara hidup bulanannya.

This is like giving the car buyer an RM1000 pay rise without incurring any extra costs for the taxpayer, the Government or the economy. It will greatly reduce the cost of living in Malaysia and spur greater economic growth too.

Tapi sekarang, yang menjadi mangsa dulu dan yang menjadi miskin dulu orang Melayu juga. Orang Melayu yang paling ramai sekali menjadi pembeli kereta dalam negara kita. Orang Melayu kebanyakannya makan gaji - tiap bulan dapat gaji tetap. Bila harga kereta naik gila, yang menjadi miskin di saf depan sekali adalah orang Melayu juga.

In absolute numbers, the Malays are suffering the most because they are the most in number among the fixed income people who also buy cars.

Some folks said the other day that Proton has 150 major component suppliers, dealers, distributors and about 500 other parts suppliers too.. Of the 150 major component suppliers, about 15 of them are listed companies. In total they employ about 120,000 people. The Proton supply chain is a mix of bumiputras and non bumiputras. But here is a sadfact : none of them are operating at their level best efficiency.

Our motor car policy is forcing Malaysians to subsidise Proton so that Proton can sustain major inefficiencies in the Malaysian economy. This is not a good thing at all.

We have to unwind this situation. Set a target of 18 months from now to unwind all protection for our motor industry. Remove the impoverishing AP policy also in 18 months. Let Malaysian car prices reflect world market prices for the same makes of cars.

If a BMW 535 sells for RM178,000 in America , it should sell for a little less here in Malaysia (our rentals and salaries are cheaper).

Fw: Car Prices In Malaysia
The Ministers continue making pronouncements about the car industry as though nothing has happened. I hope everyone will please wake up. The Government has a real chance of getting thrown out of office in about three years. The people will not accept inept answers anymore. The ridiculous car prices in Malaysia is an issue that is just beginning to get more attention and publicity. It is going to become a really big issue in the near future. Be forewarned.

From: http://308gt.blogspot.com/2009/08/car-prices-in-malaysia-by-syed-akbar.html

Pulang Merantau - Lagu Rakyat Negeri Sembilan

Di pautan ini: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6s2xplTlhs

To put Malaysia first, put Malaysian second – Paul Si

I got this article by Paul Si in the Malaysian Insider.....quite an interesting piece of writing.....

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It’s all in the grammar. Specifically, in adjectives and nouns. I realise that language skills have declined significantly over the years, and that decline has something to do with people not wanting to learn, and the authorities shifting the goalposts to suit the people’s wishes.

But I hope you will bear with me on this because it is important, because it is the root of the problems Malaysia is beset with.

Back to basics. A noun is a thing, an object. It could be a tangible thing or an intangible thing. “House”, for example, is a noun. “Idea” is also a noun, albeit an intangible thing.
An adjective is a modifier or enhancer of that thing. “Big”, for example, is an adjective.
So, you have a house. What kind of house? A big house. The house is the thing, and big tells us more about your thing. See, it’s not that hard.

Ah, but there are words that are nouns, that are also used as adjectives. An example is a mountain bike. A bike is certainly a thing, but so is a mountain. Used in this context, though, the mountain is an adjective that describes the bike. So, the bike is still the thing and the mountain tells us what kind of bike, or thing, it is. As opposed to, say, a road bike, or an exercise bike.
And so to the problem with Malaysia, where the population thinks of itself in terms of Malaysian Chinese, Malaysian Indians and, well, just Malays.

Gramatically speaking, Malaysian is a noun, and so are Chinese, Indian, Malay, Iban and Kadazan, and all can also be nouns functioning as adjectives. So the phrase Malaysian Chinese is grammatically correct, as is Chinese Malaysian. But they mean different things.

In a nicely written article headlined “Proud to be a Malay Singaporean” published in The Malaysian Insider today, Khartini Khalid tells us why she is proud to be a Singaporean. A Malay Singaporean.

Likewise, we now hear a lot about Native Americans, African Americans, Chinese Americans, and so on. Not, mind you, American Chinese, or American African.

The thing about English is that the noun, the really important thing, comes after the adjective or descriptor. So, you know that a person is a Singaporean or an American, or Indonesian, or Australian, and he/she is of African or Chinese descent. He/she could also be a tall American, or fat American or ugly American, but still an American.

We, meanwhile, are Chinese, or Indians, or Others, who happen to hold Malaysian citizenship. We have the Malaysian Indian Congress and the Malaysian Chinese Associations. These are groups of people who are Indians and Chinese, respectively, who happen to live in Malaysia.
If they were Malaysians who happened to trace their roots to India and China, respectively, then the bodies would the Congress of Indian Malaysians and Association of Chinese Malaysians, again respectively.

Of course, the relative placement of noun and adjective is reversed in Bahasa, as well French, Spanish and many other languages. So, we have “rumah besar” instead of “big house”. Could this explain why these groups are so named?

Ah, but Persatuan Cina Malaysia and Kongres India Se-Malaysia tell us that this naming convention is not a simple transliteration that gives rise to confusion. No, it is deliberate and intentional.

So, there you have it. 1 Malaysia is a nice idea, even a noble goal to aim for. But day-to-day reality, conscious or sub-conscious, is very different, and it is all because we put “Malaysian” ahead of our ethnic or cultural background.

For that nice idea to become the new reality, we have to be Malaysians first, which means we put Malaysian second, after Chinese/Indian/Dayak. Are you confused yet? I know I am.

From HERE

SALAM MERDEKA

SALAM MERDEKA UNTUK SEMUA RAKYAT MALAYSIA

MERDEKA DARI PEMIKIRAN YANG JUMUD DAN CETEK,

MERDEKA DARI KONGKONGAN KEZALIMAN,

MERDEKA DARI MENTALITI CHAUVANISTIK BANGSA,

MERDEKA DARI UNDANG-UNDANG PENJAJAH,

MERDEKA, MERDEKA, MERDEKA, MERDEKA.

Lembu Punya Kepala, Islam Yang Dapat Nama

Memang tak bertanggungjawab dan berfikiran sempit la orang yang buat kerja ni.

Dalam kitab Ustaz mana entah diorang dapat Dalil bahawa kita boleh menghina agama lain demi mempertahankan Islam. Bukan ke dalam Quran dah ada sebut, "jangan hina agama lain, nanti diorang akan hina Islam" (terjemahan lebih kurang).

Islam ajar kita supaya berfikiran terbuka... Jangan sempitkan fikiran tu. Islam juga ajar kita hormat kat agama lain... Supaya diorang hormat pada Islam.

Walaupun nak jadi hero, janganlah sampai nama Islam tercemar. Negara ni ada undang-undang dan peraturan... Ada mahkamah... Kalau rasa tak puas hati, gunakanlah saluran yg betul. Janganlah lembu yg tak berdosa tu jadi mangsa pulak.

Lagipun, bukan ke lembu tu makanan kita... Kenapa lak di'kaki-kaki'kan... Mak bapak tak ajar ke hormati makanan?

Satu hal lagi... Badan lembu tu pegi mana? Buat kenduri ke? Makan masa bila tu? Hehehe, tak elok tau buat kerja-kerja camni masa bulan Ramadhan yg mulia ni.

Sent from Haza Hilmy's BlackBerry® device

Fraudulent defenders of our faith — M. Bakri Musa

This is a nice and a thoughtful piece of article that I found HERE. It make us think about ourselves as a Muslim... Have we done enough to better ourselves before we go around "defending" our cause?

AUG 10 — With Ramadan soon upon us, Muslims everywhere are caught up in a heightened sense of spirituality. That is the good news.
Take last Thursday evening, for example. The San Jose, California, masjid was inundated with believers staying late into the night. It was the 15th of Shaaban, an especially blessed time in the Muslim calendar. Shaaban is the month before Ramadan, and serves as a “warm up” to it. As my imam Ilyas noted wryly in his Friday khutba, what struck him was that many that evening had never before set foot on the premises. That is the bad news.
Malays too are struck by this wave of religious fervour with the impending arrival of Ramadan. Thus the recent local authority raid on a 7-Eleven store in Selangor, stripping the store of its beer inventory. Never mind that the store had been selling that beverage for decades without any harassment from the authorities.
Then there was Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin calling on his PAS counterpart to “unite” against DAP (and thus Pakatan) for allegedly “insulting” Islam. Not to be outdone, Datuk Khir Toyo, a fellow “fighter” in Umno Youth, chided PAS for not standing up to the Pakatan state government’s “insulting” Islam by ordering the beer loot be returned to the store.
It turned out that the local agency had no authority to conduct such a raid. Alas, observing the niceties of the law has never been a strong point with these Malaysian jihadist wannabes.
Our Malaysian jihadists may consider themselves “modern” and of a different breed. After all Khairy has been to Oxford while Khir is a trained dentist. Alas they are “modern” only in their outward appearances, what with their fancy suits and palatial bungalows. In mindset and attitude, however, they are no different from those madrasah-educated, dishevelled bearded Talibans dwelling high in the caves of Afghanistan.
More to the point, I am not all assured that these overzealous “defenders” of Islam are doing our faith any favour. On the contrary, these fraudulent defenders of our faith are smearing the image of Islam.
As my imam Ilyas rightly pointed out on noting the large crowd at the masjid on the evening of 15th Shaaban, while he was pleased with the turnout he gently reminded us that it is far more important to do the many little “good” gestures required of us by our faith all the time than be focused on doing the spectacular ultra religious deeds during Ramadan.
For example, it is much more important to be generous throughout the year rather than making a highly publicised generous donation during Ramadan. On another level, there is no point for us to live a life of vice and corruption and then once a year undertake a haj or umrah in an attempt to “cleanse” ourselves.
If the average citizen can see through the hollowness of such “pious” gestures, rest assured that Almighty Allah would have minimal difficulty figuring out the hoax.
The late Zakaria Mat Deros, a former railway guard turned fabulously wealthy politician with the obscenely ostentatious bungalow squatting amidst the squalor of the Malay kampung in Port Klang, was a prime example. He was accompanied on one of his frequent umrahs by no less than the head of Islam Hadhari, then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
I wish that characters like Mat Deros were the exception; unfortunately they are the norm. Consider that self-admitted adulterer Razak Baginda. Not only did he try to cleanse himself religiously by visiting (yes, “visiting” is the appropriate term) Mecca, he went on to “purify” himself by going to Oxford. Presumably he thinks that a doctorate from that august institution would purify him in the eyes of the secular crowd.
I wonder how Razak Baginda felt when he undertook his umrah knowing that a young girl his daughter’s age was blown up to smithereens as a consequence of his philandering. Did he offer any prayers for the soul of his former lover and for her still grieving family? Charity and generosity after all are one of the pillars of our faith.
These Malays should heed the advice of my young but wise imam. They should instead focus on being “good” in their everyday existence instead of trying to display their piety in dramatic ways during special occasions.
The central injunction of our Quran — Amal makruf, nahi mungkar (Command good, forbid evil) — should be our daily creed. Frequent trips to Mecca, glamorous iftar parties during Ramadan, and having a surau as part of your palatial mansion will not make up for your ignoring this elemental and recurring Quranic refrain.
I wish that Khairy and Khir, being young and the future leaders of Umno, as well as others would address the gross injustices perpetrated on our citizens, the corruption that is infesting our society, and the poverty that blights far too many Malaysians, instead of being unnecessarily obsessed with 7-Eleven stores selling beer. In the same vein I do not see Khairy, Khir and others of their ilk being outraged at Umno stalwarts serving on the boards of Carlsberg and the Genting casino company.
The pair’s selective outrage baffles me. Or stated differently, I, like others, readily see through their hoax.
There is nothing Islamic about a society infested with corruption, dehumanised by poverty, and riddled with injustices. It would be the height of hypocrisy, and mocks our great faith to boot, for Khairy and Khir Toyo to claim the mantle of Islamic leadership if they are a part of the state apparatus that allows these evils to continue. — bakrimusa.com

ISA

Beberapa hari lepas puluhan ribu rakyat Malaysia dari pelbagai agama, kaum dan bangsa berkumpul di Ibukota. Tujuannya hanyalah satu... untuk menyampaikan satu memo kepada YDP Agong tentang perlunya suatu undang-undang yang bernama Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) dimansuhkan (khabarnya ada juga kumpulan yang berhimpun untuk menyokong akta ini pada hari yang sama, tapi kurang mendapat perhatian... terutama dari pihak berkuasa).

Pada hematnya aku bukanlah ahli politik atau aktivis untuk mana-mana badan... tetapi aku dah banyak baca tentang bagaimana akta ini digunakan untuk mengekang mereka-mereka yang di”cop” boleh membawa bahaya kepada keselamatan negara.

Ya, baiklah...ada juga logiknya ISA ni. Tapi apa yang menghairankan, hanya mereka yang menjadi peneraju dan penyokong parti yang tak sehaluan dengan parti-parti kerajaan pulak yang selalu kena tangkap. Khabarnya akta ni membolehkan pihak berkuasa menangkap mereka yang disyaki boleh membawa bahaya kepada keselamatan negara. Jadi sejak beberapa tahun ni, maka ramailah mereka yang di”cop” sedemikian ditangkap. Yang bestnya, mereka yang ditangkap ni, majoritinya, tidak dibawa ke muka pengadilan.... Cuma “disimpan” dipusat tahanan untuk disoal siasat. Hehehe....ada yang kena soal siasat sampai 8 tahun....

Ini menunjukkan pihak berkuasa kita ni tak pandai menyoal siasat.... mungkin tak belajar betul-betul dari siri-siri TV macam Law & Order, CSI, Numb3rs, TJ Hooker, Starsky & Hutch dan lain-lain. Kalau tak, takkanlah ada yang dah bertahun-tahun terpaksa berpisah dengan anak isteri....dan dah bertahun-tahun anak-anak hilang kasih sayang ayah dan isteri hilang belaian suami. Banyak dah keluarga yang menderita sebab hilang orang yang selama ni jadi “bread winner”. Atas alasan apa mereka ditangkap? Wallahu a’lam... Takkan nak soal siasat ambik masa terlalu lama?

Tapi yang pastinya, akta ni memang sepatutnya dah takde lagi dah.... Kalau tak salah Allahyarham Tun Razak dulu kata akta ni hanyalah untuk mengekang bahaya pengganas komunis. Rasanya Arwah Bapa Pembangunan Malaysia ni pun tak pernah terfikir pun yang akta yang dia bawa ke Parlimen dulu akan digunakan oleh kerajaan (termasuklah anaknya PM sekarang ni) untuk tangkap ustaz-ustaz, aktivis-aktivis hak asasi manusia, pemberita, penulis blog...dan yang lebih teruk lagi ialah ahli-ahli politik dari parti-parti pembangkang (tak pernah pulak dengar ahli-ahli politik dari parti-parti kerajaan yang kena tangkap.....Pelik, kan?). Ada juga yang sepatutnya jadi saksi, jadi plaintif...ditangkap.... Pelik juga, kan?

Selalunya bila aku cakap macam ni.... maka adalah di kalangan kawan-kawan dan sahabat yang kata aku ni anti-kerajaan lah, sokong pembangkang lah, tak bersyukur kat kerajaan sebab bantu bayar untuk pendidikan aku lah.... Dari satu segi memanglah betul.... Tapi sebagai seorang Muslim, kita diajar supaya berlaku adil... tak kiralah kepada siapa....tak kiralah samada orang-orang tu berlainan fahaman agama atau ideologi politik... ataupun sekadar berbeza pendapat. Jikalau betul seseorang tu bersalah...siap dengan bukti-bukti dan saksi-saksi...maka hadapkan dia ke mahkamah, dakwa dia....bagi dia perbicaraan yang adil.... kalau terbukti bersalah tanpa keraguaan yang munasabah, maka hukumlah dia.... “Innocent until proven guilty”....

Kalau keadilan tak ada dalam negara, maka visi untuk jadi negara maju akan tinggal visi sahaja..... Sebab dalam sesebuah negara maju, kerajaan dan rakyatnya juga mestilah ada mentaliti negara maju.... Apa dia mentaliti negara maju? Kalau nak tulis....”confirm” menjela-jela.... Faham-faham sendirilah...cubalah tengok negara-negara maju.... tapi tengok yang “part-part” yang baik je lah...kemudiannya, cuba “assimilate” ke dalam konteks negara pelbagai kaum macam kita.... Mungkin susah, tapi kalau tak mula, sampai bila pun kita akan “tersangkut” kat “3^rd World mentality”.... sampai bila pun kita takkan maju...

Rakyat berdemo, bukan sebab rakyat benci kerajaan.... tapi sekadar untuk suarakan ketidakpuasan hati kepada sesuatu isu.... takkan lah itu pun membahayakan keamanan.... “come on” la bang.... Cuba ingat balik, kerajaan dipilih oleh majoriti rakyat.... ye betul...tapi janganlah lupa kepada yang “minoriti”. Diorang pun rakyat Malaysia jugak...bayar bermacam-macam cukai kat kerajaan.... Tapi bila diorang cuba “tegur” kerajaan....kerajaan buat “dek” je.... terlalu sibuk meng”hibur”kan hati yang majority tu je.... mana boleh...tak adil lah namanya....

Jadi sebagai penutupnya.... renung-renungkan lah.... jangan jadikan kuasa yang ada pada kita tu sebagai benda yang buat kita buta.... dan jangan lupa, nanti di Hari Akhir kita akan ditanya oleh Allah apa yang kita buat dengan kuasa yang kita ada....

Apa kita nak jawab nanti?

Den tak cayo ekau oghang N9!!!

Menguji yang anda benar benar anak jati Negeri Sembilan (dari seorang sahabat menerusi emel)

1. N9 ado ompek undang, yg mano botul ?

( ) sg.. ujong, rembau, jelobu, johol
( ) seremban, rembau, bahau, kualo pilah
( ) sg. ujong, kualo pilah, rembau, jelobu
( ) seremban, kualo pilah, jelobu, tampin

2. Susunan ketuo adat N9 dari kocik sampai bosar

( ) menteri besar, buapak, lembago, undang, yamtuan
( ) penghulu, lembago, undang, menteri besar, yamtuan
( ) buapak, menteri besar, undang, yamtuan
( ) buapak, lembago, undang, yamtuan

3. ibu negeri N9

( ) sepang
( ) seremban
( ) sungai ujong
( ) rembau

4. ayat mana betul menggunakan perkataan "ghoman"

( ) ghoman bulu tongkuk den lalu dopan kubur tuh...
( ) cubo cormin ghoman tuh sikit...
( ) nak lontur buloh, kono ghoman lam sungai dulu...
( ) apo ghoman nak jadi den tak kisah... den ondak yo

5. bukit apo yang menghubungkan paroi dongan sri menanti

( ) bukit timah
( ) bukit putus
( ) bukit tanggo
( ) bukit omeh

6. tompek bernamo "Pantai" terlotak kek mano ?

( ) jln antaro rembau ngan senawang
( ) jln antaro kualo pilah ngan sri menanti
( ) jln antaro rasah dan pok dek sen
( ) jln antaro paroi dan bukit tanggo

7. apo makno "cenekel"

( ) aksi mencungkil lubang kecik
( ) main tipu
( ) aksi merotan
( ) cangkul batas

8. apo makno "hongeh"

( ) terlalu konyang
( ) terlalu suko
( ) terlalu ponek
( ) terlalu sodap

9. apo makno "pembongak"

( ) kaki tipu
( ) orang yg bongkak
( ) kaki curi
( ) kaki pancing

10. Dari seremban sebelum sampai Sri Menanti, kito akan lalu satu tompek air terjun... apo namo eh ?

( ) Ulu Bondol
( ) Jeram Toi
( ) Air Terjun Klawang
( ) Jeram Besu

11. Berikut pernah jadi menteri besar N9 : Isa Samad, Rais Yatim, Mohamad Hassan, Isa Bakar

( ) 4 betul
( ) 2 betul 2 salah
( ) 1 betul 3 salah
( ) 3 betul 1 salah

12. Laluan kajang seremban, kita akan lalu sebuah pekan kecil iaitu

( ) nilai dan sepang
( ) mantin dan longgeng
( ) pajam dan mambau
( ) bongek dan klawang

13. tompek yang popular kek pok den sen

( ) toluk komang
( ) salak tinggi
( ) toluk tinggi
( ) pantai klebang

14. kuala klawang dalam daerah mano ?

( ) rembau
( ) jelobu
( ) kualo linggi
( ) kualo pilah

15. semuo adolah tompek kek sempadan N9... yg mano satu bukan

( ) simpang ompek
( ) lubuk cino
( ) bongek
( ) tampin

16. apo makno "hongap"

( ) dengkur
( ) hinggap
( ) nafas
( ) gatal

17. Wisma apo yg paling glamour kek seremban sekitar awal tahun 90 an

( ) wisma emas
( ) wisma MPS
( ) wisma punca emas
( ) wisma dagang emas

18. senaling kualo pilah terkonal dengan apo ?

( ) taik lombu yg banyak (den ghaso yg ni la...dh lamo tk ikut jln ni...banyak piuk api)
( ) perusahaan telur itik
( ) tanaman buah nago
( ) pusat pemprosesan baja taik ayam

19. kalau masak lomak cili api... bahan apo yg ponting skali

( ) lado api, bawang, kunyit, air
( ) lado api, kunyit, soghai, santan
( ) lado api, kunyit, halio, santan, limau purut
( ) lado api, daun kunyit, santan, sengkuang

20. namo salah satu undang N9 yg menanda tangani perjanji kemerdekaan malaysia

( ) Tengku Adnan Mansor - Tengku Besar Tampin
( ) Dato Lela Maharaja Hj Ipap
( ) Dato Paduka Demang Lebar Daun Hj Isap
( ) Dato' Kelana Kamaruddin kacha (Den agak yo)

21. stesen keretapi lama di bongek terletak di

( ) congkau (Ni pun den main agak yo)
( ) penajih
( ) miku
( ) tiroi

22. apo makno "menyonggau"

( ) lidah kelat kelat makan nenas
( ) memikat burung
( ) mengacau dodol
( ) pijar-pijar terkena lada (menyonggau ko?)

23. apo makno "menghungap"

( ) lari tercungap cungap
( ) menhendap ayam hutan
( ) penat kekenyangan
( ) menerkam makanan

24. apo makno "hunggeh"

( ) keadaan tersengih mcm kerang busuk
( ) proses mencabut ubi kayu
( ) teknik mengumpil daun pintu
( ) teknik menggigit buah jambu batu

25. tali air tepi sawah merujuk kepada

( ) lombok
( ) lompak
( ) bonda
( ) bendong

26. apo dah jadi kek tapak lamo stadium seremban

( ) Taman Botani
( ) Bangunan TNB Baru
( ) Terminal One
( ) Seremban Parade

27. ayat mano yang botul pasal ghemah

( ) ghemah ghemah jugak, hutang den bilo nak bayar
( ) elok lah sikit makan tuh jgn sampai bersepah ghemah
( ) bawak keto tu biar ber-ghemah sikit
( ) apo yg ghemah ghemah kek luar tuh... suruh dio sonyap

28. apa makno "okap"

( ) otai
( ) tamak
( ) cekap
( ) lembab

29. apo makno "bosolumak"

( ) kusam
( ) suara lunak
( ) comot
( ) berlemak

30. ado satu skolah bersebolahan taman tasik seremban... skolah apo tuh ?

( ) SM Saint Paul
( ) SM King george V
( ) SM Convernt
( ) SM Seremban

31. Ado satu fast food dokek taman tasik seremban, dokek dongan bangunan TM

( ) A&W
( ) McD
( ) KFC
( ) Burger King

32. Dopan pagar utama istano yamtuan kek seremban ado satu round about, dopan tuh ado satu bangunan putih.... tompek apo tuh

( ) pejabat agama
( ) perpustakaan
( ) rumah MB
( ) balai polis

33. Ayat berikut, yg mano satu botul utk perkataan "ontok"

( ) sumo kojo den kono ontok-ontok, biar lah dio plak yg buek
( ) tak leh duduk diam, cuba lah ontok-ontok sikit...
( ) lopeh bakar lomang, ekau ontok-ontok lah lomang tu sikit
( ) ontok-ontok nie sodap klau makan paneh paneh

34. Sapo namo MB N9 skarang

( ) Isa Bakar
( ) Isa Samad
( ) Mat Hassan
( ) Rais Yatim

35. Nama yamtuan N9 yang baru

( ) Tengku Mukhriz
( ) Tengku Antah
( ) Tengku Jaafar
( ) Tengku Imran